The Army: Bullying (Hansard, 28 November 1996)

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence (Earl Howe)
My Lords, there were four substantiated cases of bullying within the Army in 1994, the last year for which figures are complete. With regard to compensation payments, service personnel have the same legal rights as civilian workers to claim compensation from their employer. They are normally entitled to compensation if they can show that injury results from negligence on the part of their employer, the MoD.

§ Lord Ashley of Stoke
My Lords, I am grateful to the Minister for that reply. However, is he aware that, although the Ministry of Defence and the Adjutant-General and his colleagues condemn bullying, it still goes on, and probably in far greater numbers than is reported? There are two reasons why compensation should be paid: first, to reinforce the signal that bullying is unacceptable; and, secondly, because the people affected deserve it.

Earl Howe
My Lords, I entirely agree that bullying in any form is unacceptable. The noble Lord is right to say that the Army takes a serious view of bullying whenever it occurs. But I stress that the number of substantiated cases of bullying in a year is very few. Where it occurs I wholeheartedly concur with the noble Lord's view that compensation, where appropriate, should be paid. I am sure the noble Lord will agree that the basis for agreeing such claims should be four-square with that which applies in the civil sector.

§ Lord Williams of Elvel
My Lords, is the noble Earl aware that there is a good deal of anecdotal evidence—I do not say it is substantiated—that my noble friend is right in thinking that bullying is on the increase in the Army rather than on the decrease? Is the noble Earl aware also that, according to certain press reports in which we can place whatever credence we like, certain officers have been involved in such activities? In those 372 circumstances, what are the sanctions that those who hold the Queen's commission face who may be guilty of such appalling behaviour?

Earl Howe
My Lords, I am aware of certain cases that have been reported in the press. I believe that the incidence of bullying in the Army is low. Occasionally episodes come to light and when they do they are dealt with firmly and thoroughly, whether it is a soldier or an officer who is involved. We are all aware of anecdotal evidence. Between 1990 and 1994—the most recent year for which figures are available—the number of violent offences committed by Army personnel fell by over 30 per cent. That is a clear indication that the measures to combat all forms of ill-treatment within the service are working.

§ Lord Williams of Elvel
My Lords, all that may be true. Can the noble Earl answer my question? What sanctions are available against those who hold the Queen's commission as officers who may be guilty of offences of this nature?

Earl Howe
My Lords, the penalties are exactly the same, as I tried to indicate. The problem is that soldiers are often reluctant to come forward, particularly if it is their own immediate superior who, in their eyes, is guilty of the offence in question. That is a matter that needs to be addressed. The Army is aware of that potential difficulty and has taken steps to ensure that all soldiers are made aware of the procedures open to them if they feel aggrieved.

Viscount Falkland
My Lords, is it not the case that the tendency for bullying, whether it be in a ship, a regiment or a school, is unfortunately part of the human condition? The problem is detecting it and taking the proper action to root it out. Those of us who served for any length of time in Her Majesty's Armed Forces know that it is up to a commanding officer and the machinery that he puts in place to do that. Is the Minister satisfied that that satisfactory way of dealing with the problem is now in place?

Earl Howe
My Lords, a lot of work has been done in the Army over recent years to address the problems to which the noble Viscount refers. The Chief of the General Staff issued a directive in December last year covering the Army's policy on sexual and racial harassment and bullying. In addition to that directive, a pamphlet on equal opportunities in the Army has been distributed to all regular Army service personnel. It provides guidance on the policy and the mechanisms available to service personnel should they wish to complain about sexual or racial harassment or bullying. That pamphlet is issued to all new recruits during their initial training.

Earl Attlee
My Lords, is the Minister aware that the Army's disciplinary machinery sends out strong signals to anyone convicted of those offences?

Earl Howe
My Lords, I am grateful to the noble Earl. He is quite right.

§ Lord Newall
My Lords, is my noble friend aware that many of us who joined the forces in the 1940s were attacked by our fellow members when we were in the ranks—whether at Sandhurst or elsewhere? It was quite normal and one certainly did not worry about it.

Earl Howe
My Lords, I believe there are varying definitions of bullying. I am sorry that my noble friend was the victim of what sounds like unpleasant behaviour.

§ Lord Ashley of Stoke
My Lords, will the noble Earl be chary of being misled by questions about bullying being normal? We are talking of vicious and sadistic practices which are well documented. It is unacceptable brutality by a small minority in the Army that we are discussing. Can I assume that the Minister agrees with his colleague in another place, the Minister of State, who said that the MoD takes bullying seriously but does not keep central records? In other words, the Ministry of Defence does not bother to find out what is going on; it simply does not know; it only appears to be taking the matter seriously. If it does not keep records, it cannot know what bullying is taking place. Why does not the MoD do something about it?

Earl Howe
My Lords, we do keep records; that is how I was able to answer the noble Lord's Question in the first place. This is not a subject of which I make light in any way, shape or form. Bullying in the Armed Forces, when it occurs—it occurs only rarely—is a serious matter which the services will stamp on at the first opportunity.